Gatineau: The Gateway to Quebec

The Ottawa River and Pont Alexandra Bridge 1

Colourful, lush garden parks combine with chic, European-style urban flair in Gatineau, the city that, by its own proclamation, acts as La porte d'entrée du Québec (the gateway to Quebec).

Gatineau is perhaps best known as the city across the river from Ottawa, Canada's capital city, but what many may not realize is that Gatineau is a destination worth visiting in its own right, not merely as a minor distraction for visitors to Ottawa.

Known commonly by its former name, Hull, this vibrant community has everything necessary for a good visit, including a wide range of accommodations choices, dozens of fascinating attractions, a good selection of shops and restaurants, and activities to suit every member of the family.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

	Outdated Sign Leading to Gatineau

Gatineau is the collective name assumed on January 1, 2002 by five adjacent municipalities: Hull, Gatineau, Aylmer, Buckingham and Masson-Angers. Up until recently, Hull was known as the predominant community among these, though Gatineau was technically larger in terms of population, and therefore the new city was named Gatineau, as that name represented the bulk of the city's population.

Because of their proximity to one another, Gatineau and Ottawa are often grouped together and referred to collectively as Canada's National Capital Region.

HISTORY AND ECONOMY

Before it was known as Gatineau, and even before it was known as Hull, the settlement north of the Ottawa River was known as Wright's Town, while Ottawa had taken on the name Bytown. The region's importance was established in the early 1800's, when, following the War of 1812, Canadian troops decided they needed quicker access between Montreal and Kingston (Canada's original capital city) and began construction on the Rideau Canal, which would link the Ottawa River to Lake Ontario at Kingston. Ottawa and Gatineau, conveniently located at the convergence of the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River, were henceforth considered an important trading and military hub for early Canada.

Gatineau is situated in the Outaouais region of Quebec, a region that is known for its vast supplies of lumber, and in its early days, Hull/Gatineau was largely run by wealthy lumber barons that exploited and profited from the land. Too frugal to purchase a water pump or support a fire department, many lumber magnates watched in horror as massive fires consumed vast amounts of processed dry lumber in 1900 and went on to burn many homes and buildings in the surrounding region. Les Grands Incendies (The Great Fires) as they are called today are remembered by citizens of Gatineau through archives found at the National Library of Canada.

A View of Parliament from Gatineau

Former Prime Minister Mackenzie King, who spent an incredible 21 years in the top office, showed particular fondness for the Gatineau region. In 1936, he embarked on a mission to clean up the former industrial town while preserving the natural habitat and beauty of the area. This mission lasted well into the 1970s and saw the formation of several parks and gardens that stand beside waterways, government buildings and streets throughout the region. King's favourite spot, Gatineau Hills, is now a beautiful park offering 363 km² (140 mi²) of natural riverside landscape.

Over the past few decades, the government has taken steps to further mould the Ottawa/Gatineau region into a city that positively represents Canada on an international stage through further development of the tourism industry, including the restoration and creation of attractions, activities and festivals.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Visitors to the city of Gatineau will find that accommodations are mainly limited to hotels and motels, although a few B&Bs are also available in the region. Hotel accommodations in Gatineau vary from basic to deluxe. The amount of accommodations available in Ottawa is more than triple that of Gatineau, so finding a place to stay in the National Capital Region is rarely a problem.

ARTS & CULTURE

The municipal government of Gatineau is committed to both supporting and promoting its thriving arts community, and subsequently, Gatineau is home to a number of galleries and theatres, particularly the Montcalm Gallery and Theatre de l'Île (the Theatre of the Island).

Preservation of the Quebecois and Aboriginal cultures is of particular importance to the government, so visitors can expect to see these themes highlighted in art shows and productions throughout the National Capital Region.

CLIMATE

Summers in Gatineau are hot and often humid. A fair amount of rain falls during July and August, leading to lush vegetation. In fall, the leaves turn amazingly vivid shades of yellow, orange and red and the temperatures are mild, and sometimes even quite warm. Large amounts of rain in November turn to snow in December, but the snowfall usually drops off in January. Winter in Gatineau can be bitterly cold, sometimes with freezing rain. However, the region warms up in late March and the flowers that Gatineau is famous for start to bloom. Spring is often touted as the time to visit the National Capital Region, as temperatures are mild and the brightly coloured flowers are simply amazing.

Autumn Colours at Gatineau's Pink Lake 2

TRANSPORATION

In and out of Gatineau
Gatineau has a small municipal airport, but it is typically only visited by small charter jets. Subsequently, most flyers head to Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Ottawa also offers passenger train service to and from Toronto and Montreal.

The region surrounding Gatineau is plagued by the lack of a major highway system, and with only one small highway connecting Gatineau with Montreal, many people head to Ottawa and hit Ontario's modern highway system to reach eastern and central Quebec.

Around Gatineau
Gatineau has a decent road system with several major roads connecting the communities within the region. Several bridges also connect Gatineau to the city of Ottawa, although once in Ottawa, traffic can sometimes be heavy. Parking in Gatineau is rarely a problem, and if spots on the street can't be found, a reasonably-priced parking garage is usually located nearby.

Gatineau and Ottawa each offer public transportation networks which together can provide access to all points in the region. However, each city's public transit system is separate and has its own fare schedule and connection points, sometimes making it difficult to navigate the region. Gatineau's public transit system is called Societe de Transport de L'Outaouais (STO) and Ottawa's is OC Transpo.

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

Situated on the shores of the Ottawa River and divided down the middle by the Gatineau River, the city of Gatineau is covered by rolling hills, lush vegetation and cool, refreshing lakes. A city of parks, Gatineau has several recreation areas that should not be missed, including Jacques Cartier Park, which offers terrific views of downtown Gatineau and the Rideau Canal, and the Leamy Lake Park, which offers windsurfing and swimming opportunities.

	The Canadian Museum of Civilization 3

Gatineau is the home of the celebrated Canadian Museum of Civilization, which honours Canada's human history, from the early days of the First Nations people to the present-day population. The museum offers fascinating ever-changing exhibits that delve into the history of civilizations throughout the world. The museum also has several sub-museums located within its walls, including the Canadian Children's museum, the Canadian Postal Museum, the Canadian War Museum and the Virtual Museum of New France.

Few loved Gatineau as much as Canada's longest-running Prime Minister, Mackenzie King, and it was here that he chose to establish the sprawling estate which he would spend a large portion of his life in. The Mackenzie King Estate, which now lies within the boundaries of Gatineau Park, is the place in which he lived and died, and visitors today are welcome to tour the extensive grounds, complete with walking trails and stone ruins.

Situated on the shore of a picturesque lake, the Casino Du Lac Leamy is a world-class facility that attracts people who come with dollar signs in their eyes and leave with dollar bills in their hands, if they're lucky. The casino has all the makings for a classy night out—exciting gaming opportunities, fine dining establishments, live entertainment venues and posh hotel accommodations.

Gatineau's signature event is the world-famous Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival. Balloons of all shapes and sizes head to La Baie Park to compete among the best of the best of the hot air balloon world. This unique festival is one of the most popular celebrations in the National Capital Region and so it should be—where else can one see a giant beagle, bumblebee or Vincent Van Gogh likening cruising through the summer sky?

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

1. Jason Kipfer; The Ottawa River and Pont Alexandra Bridge; Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
2. Jason Kipfer; Autumn Colours at Gatineau's Pink Lake; Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
3. Jason Kipfer; The Canadian Museum of Civilization; Gatineau, Quebec, Canada